menagerie
05-26-2006, 02:17 PM
I've been lurking here for a bit, finally got around to joining the other day and thought it was about time I introduced myself. I'm involved in small animal rescue with Wee Companions (http://www.weecompanions.com) in San Diego, CA. We rescue the small animals that are overlooked by other major rescue groups. Our main focus is guinea pigs and rats, but we usually have rabbits, hamsters and mice also and up until this year the occasional chinchilla. Basically any small mammal. My specialty is rats and I am a sanctuary home for those that are deemed unadoptable for health or temperament reasons. I have been cross training in guinea pigs recently.
In January we had 8 chinchillas relinquished to us, 4 boys and 4 girls that had all be living together. So I also became a chinchilla home, the boys were adopted out and the girls put on pregnancy watch. On Easter Sunday, Nicki presented me with two gorgeous baby boys, who will adopted out together when they are old enough. At this point we're not sure of the fate of the girls as one of them did not do well when we originally separated them into pairs. Curly wouldn't bathe, wasn't interested in food and sank into a depression until the group was back together.
Typically we see a chinchilla in the rescue every few years, but it seems that 2006 is going to be a banner year for us. Since the group of 8 we have taken in another girl and 2 boys. One boy was dropped off at Animal Control as a stray and the other two are owner relinquishments.
In all honesty, chinchillas were never an animal I thought about having as a pet. My mind has been forever changed. The boy that was dropped off at Animal Control and I have bonded and he will be staying with me. Depending on what happens with the girls and splitting them up, I will probably end up with more than just Chauncy. They are addictive.
In addition to the rats and chins, I’m also owned by two large dogs and a few other small animals.
This forum is a great source of information and I’m happy to be here.
Suzanne
In January we had 8 chinchillas relinquished to us, 4 boys and 4 girls that had all be living together. So I also became a chinchilla home, the boys were adopted out and the girls put on pregnancy watch. On Easter Sunday, Nicki presented me with two gorgeous baby boys, who will adopted out together when they are old enough. At this point we're not sure of the fate of the girls as one of them did not do well when we originally separated them into pairs. Curly wouldn't bathe, wasn't interested in food and sank into a depression until the group was back together.
Typically we see a chinchilla in the rescue every few years, but it seems that 2006 is going to be a banner year for us. Since the group of 8 we have taken in another girl and 2 boys. One boy was dropped off at Animal Control as a stray and the other two are owner relinquishments.
In all honesty, chinchillas were never an animal I thought about having as a pet. My mind has been forever changed. The boy that was dropped off at Animal Control and I have bonded and he will be staying with me. Depending on what happens with the girls and splitting them up, I will probably end up with more than just Chauncy. They are addictive.
In addition to the rats and chins, I’m also owned by two large dogs and a few other small animals.
This forum is a great source of information and I’m happy to be here.
Suzanne